Syro-Malabar Mass celebrated at Holy Family

Mary Grace Augustine, of the Filipino Apostolate, leads the music ministry during Mass celebrated according to the tradition of the Syro-Malabar Rite of the Church. Father Sanjai Devis, parochial vicar, celebrated the Mass on Friday, Nov. 19, at Holy Family Parish in Sewell.

On Friday, Nov. 19, Father Sanjai Devis, parochial vicar of Holy Family Parish in Sewell, celebrated a 7 p.m. Mass, according to the tradition of the Syro-Malabar Rite of the Church, of his native India.

The multi-cultural event included Mass in English, followed by a dinner with ethnic dishes. Parts of the Mass were said in Malayalam, one of the major languages in southern India.

The Syro-Malabar Church is an Apostolic Church tracing its origins to the Apostle St. Thomas who, according to tradition, visited Cranganore, Kerala, India, in 52 AD, founding seven Christian communities before dying as a martyr 20 years later in Mylapore, South India.

The church is one of 220 sui iuris Oriental Churches that have their own particular characteristics expressed in worship, spirituality and disciplinary laws.

There are presently five archdioceses, and 24 dioceses in the United States, with an estimated 100,000 Syro-Malabar Catholics in the U.S. and Canada.